Closure means for bags



Sept. 6, 1960 H. BRENKER CLOSURE MEANS FOR BAGS Filed Jan 22, 1959particularly for plastic bags.

Patented Sept. a, race ill CLOSURE MEANS FOR BAGS Hans Brenker,Braunschweig, Germany, assignor to Neoplastik BraunschweigerKunststoifwerk G.m.b.H.

Filed Jan. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 710,582 Claims priority, applicationGermany July 1, 1957 8 Claims. (Cl. 24-305) The invention relates toclosure means for bags, more The usual means adopted for closing bags,especially when they are made of plastic, is to tie them together withstring or to use a clamp to provide a fairly airtight seal. Apart fromordinary strings or metal clips closure means made of a plastic arealready commercially available. circle the gathered and compressed mouthof the bag and to hold it together by friction. Such closure meanseither take the form of a clasp placed around the mouth of the bag andsecured by means of a clip in the manner of a hair clip held by a pressstud or alternatively they consist of a sleeve with a loop which can bepulled into the sleeve. Other known devices have the shape of a leadseal with a sliding clip. In these devices a cord is also drawn throughthe slot in the seal in a manner generally known and this i is intendedto keep the bag closed. The cord can be frictionally wedged in the sealby means of the clip. These closure means are comparatively complicatedin construction and insofar as they make use of special cords they areopen to the objection that the cord is liable to wear and that the roundsmooth outside surface of the cord is not particularly adapted to befrictionally retained in a clip or the like.

In the closure means proposed by the present invention a loop isprovided for drawing the gathered mouth of the bag into a sleeve.However, the invention avoids the dis advantages that have beendescribed in that the noose and the sleeve are of integral construction,preferably consisting of an injection moulded piece of plastic, and theclosure means may at the same time serve as the carrier. Since the loopand the sleeve both consist of the same material frictional grip can beimproved by giving the sleeve an approximately rectangular section whichconforms with the flat strip-like band which forms the loop.

A flat sleeve and a flat loop frictionally engage much better than around section cord in a sleeve.

Since the shape of the loop is arbitrary it is preferred to provide itwith retaining teeth which can be pulled out of the top of the sleeve asthe mouth of the bag is drawn into the sleeve, and which will thenlocate on the top edge of the sleeve in such a way that the upper end ofthe loop must be squeezed together and the teeth released before theloop and the bag can again be extracted.

The form of construction proposed by the present invention also permitsthe loop to be provided with holes for securing it by a seal such as forexample a lead seal; the wire or cord attached to the latter beingthreaded through the said holes. This permits the bag to be employed forthe sale of packed goods and the bag to be sealed in a manner that willprevent tampering by unauthorized persons. To increase the frictionalengagement between the mouth of the bag in the loop and the inside wallsof the sleeve, the latter may be provided with transverse rib members.According to the invention these ribs may take the form of fiat finswhich project into the interior of the sleeve. When the loop with themouth of bottom of the sleeve.

the bag is drawn into the sleeve these fins are inwardly deflected andresist unwanted withdrawal of the bag. They will not resume their normalposition until the top of the loop has been first squeezed together andthe loop and bag thrust back into the top and extracted from the Thefrictional engagement of the bag by the sleeve can be further improvedif the lower end of the sleeve is arranged to be fairly rigid and theupper wall portions thin. If this is done the thick lump formed by thecompressed mouth of the bag inside the loop will cause the upper end ofthe sleeve to bulge out- The latter are adapted to enwards when the loophas been drawn far enough into the sleeve. A certain amount of forcewill then be required, even after the top of the loop has been squeezedtogether, to pull the mouth of the bag out through the stiffer bottompart of the sleeve.

Reference will now be made tothe drawing in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a bag closed with closure means according to theinvention;

Figure 2 illustrates the manner of drawing the mouth of the bag into theclosure means;

Figure 3 illustrates the closure flattened out;

Figure 4 illustrates the closure means with the bag closed;

Figures 5 and 6 are side views of the sleeve of the closure means, thelatter in section;

Figures 7 and 8 are end views of the sleeve of the closure means thelatter in section.

In the drawings it is desired to close a bag 1 by a sleeve 2 having areinforced lower edge 3. Integral with this lower edge 3 is a band 4which forms a loop, the said band being divided by rectangular slots 5and .6 into two thin edge strips 7 and 8 (Fig. 3). The band 4 alsoserves as a carrier means. The extreme ends of the two upper edge strips8 are cross connected at 9 to form the loop tln'ough which, as shown inFig. 2, the gathered end 10 of the bag 1 is pushed as indicated by thearrow. The strips 8 are provided with teeth 11 and 12. According to thethickness of the mouth of the bag in the loop, the latter is drawn intothe sleeve until either the teeth 11 or the teeth 12 appear at the topof the sleeve. The teeth 12 are also provided with holes 13 forattachment of a seal when the loop has been pulled into the sleeve asfar as required. As shown in Fig. 4 the teeth 12 bear against the topedges 14 of the sleeve 2.

It Will be seen by reference to Fig. 6 which represents a sectionthrough the wider side of the sleeve 2 corresponding with the outsideview shown in Fig. 5, that the 1nner surface of the wider side of thesleeve is provided with rib members 15 which serve to improve thefrictional grip of the sleeve on the mouth of the bag.

Fig. 7 shows a view of the Fig. 8 being the corresponding sectionalview. As will be seen the ribs 15 are comparatively long flat fins whichproject into the interior. These fins bend upwards when the mouth of thebag is drawn into the sleeve and therefore resist its extraction. Fig. 8also discloses that the wider sides of the sleeve, which are here shownin section, are thickened towards their lower edges, whereas they havethinner sections 16 at the top. These thinner wall sections slightlybulge when the bag has been drawn into the sleeve and therefore assistin preventing it from being inadvertently pulled out.

I claim:

1. A combined attaching and carrying device for an article, said devicecomprising, in combination, a gripping loop having a loop-shaped endportion through, which part of the article can be threaded to be grippedthereby; an elongated tubular sleeve having a length smaller than thelength of said gripping loop so that said loop-shaped end accompanyingmeans when opened narrower side of the sleeve,

portion of said gripping loop projects from one end of said sleeve whensaid gripping loop is introduced into said sleeve through the other endthereof, permitting passing of an article to be gripped through saidprojecting loop-shaped end portion, said sleeve having an inner sizeexceeding in at least one direction the corresponding size of saidloop-shaped end portion so as to permit the gripping loop with thearticle gripped by said loop-shaped end portion to be drawn into it;releasable locking means on the gripping loop and the sleeve forretaining the gripping loop in said elongated tubular sleeve when drawninto it; and a flexible elongated carrying member having one endconnected to the gripping loop and the other end secured to the exteriorof the sleeve so as to form a closed carrying handle.

2. A combined attaching and carrying device for an article, said devicecomprising, in combination, a gripping loop having a loop-shaped endportion through which part of the article can be threaded to be grippedthereby; an elongated tubular sleeve having a length smaller than thelength of said gripping loop so that said loop-shaped end portion ofsaid gripping loop projects from one end of said sleeve when saidgrippingloop is introduced into said sleeve through the other endthereof, permitting passing of an article to be gripped through saidprojecting loop-shaped end portion, said sleeve having an inner sizeexceeding in at least one direction the corresponding size of saidloop-shaped end portion so as to permit the gripping loop With thearticle gripped by said loop-shaped end portion to be drawn into it;releasable locking means on the gripping loop and the sleeve forretaining the gripping loop in said elongated tubular sleeve when drawninto it; and a flexible elongated carrying member having one endconnected to the gripping loop and the other end formed integrally withthe exterior of the sleeve so as to form a closed carrying handle.

of the article can be threaded to be gripped thereby; an

elongated tubular sleeve having a length smaller than the length of saidgripping loop so that said loop-shaped end portion 01 said gripping loopprojects from one end of said sleeve when said gripping loop isintroduced into said sleeve through the other end thereof, permittingpassing of an article to be gripped through said projecting loop-shapedend portion, said sleeve having an inner size exceeding in at least onedirection the corresponding size of said loop-shaped end portion so asto permit the gripping loop with the article gripped by said loop-shapedend portion to be drawn into it; releasable locking means on thegripping loop and the sleeve for retaining the gripping loop in saidelongated tubular sleeve when drawn into it, said releasable lockingmeans comprising teeth on said loop-shaped end portion and extendingedges on said elongated tubular sleeve adapted to engage said teeth; anda flexible elongated carrying member having one end connected to thegripping loop and the other end secured to the exterior of the sleeve soas to form a closed carrying handle.

4. A combined attaching and carrying device for an article, said devicecomprising, in combination, a gripping loop having a loop-shaped endportion through which part of the article can be threaded to be grippedthereby; an elongated tubular sleeve having a length smaller than thelength of said gripping loop so that said loop-shaped end portion ofsaid gripping loop projects from one end of said sleeve when saidgripping loop is introduced into said sleeve through the other endthereof, permitting pass ing of an article to be gripped through saidprojecting loop-shaped end portion,,said sleeve having an inner sizeexceeding in at least one direction the corresponding size of saidloop-shaped end portion so as to permit the gripping loop with thearticle gripped by said loop-shaped end portion to be drawn into it;releasable locking means on the gripping loop and the sleeve forretaining the gripping loop in said elongated tubular sleeve when drawninto it, said releasable locking means comprising teeth on saidloop-shaped end portion and extending edges on said elongated tubularsleeve adapted to engage said teeth, said teeth having holes therein forsealing purposes; and a flexible elongated carrying member having oneend connected to the gripping loop and the other end secured to theexterior of the sleeve so as to form a closed carrying handle.

5. A combined attaching and carrying device for an article, said devicecomprising, in combination, a gripping loop having a loop-shaped endportion through which part of the article can be threaded to be grippedthereby; an elongated tubular sleeve having a length smaller than thelength of said gripping loop so that said loopshaped end portion of saidgripping loop projects from one end of said sleeve when said grippingloop is introduced into said sleeve through the other end thereof;permitting passing of an article to be gripped through said projectingloop-shaped end portion, said sleeve having an inner size exceeding inat least one direction the corresponding size of said loop-shaped endportion so as to permit the gripping loop with the article gripped bysaid loop-shaped end portion to be drawn into it and having inwardprojections and portions of reduced thickness so as to permit saidgripping loop with the article gripped by the said loop-shaped endportion to be drawn into the said sleeve and the part of the articlegripped by the said loop-shaped end portion to be gripped by said inwardprojections and portions of reduced thickness; releasable locking meanson the gripping loop and the sleeve for retaining the gripping loop insaid elongated tubular sleeve when drawn into it; and a flexibleelongated carrying member having one end connected to the gripping loopand the other end secured to the exterior of the sleeve so as to form aclosed carrying handle.

6. A combined attaching and carrying device for an article, saiddevicecomprising, in combination, a gripping loop having a loop-shapedend portion through which part of the article can be threaded to begripped thereby; an elongated tubular sleeve having a length smallerthan the length of said gripping loop so that said loop-shaped endportion of said gripping loop projects from one end of said sleeve whensaid gripping loop is introduced into said sleeve through the other endthereof, permitting passsing of an article to be gripped through saidprojecting loop-shaped end portion, said sleeve having an inner sizeexceeding in at least one direction the corresponding size of saidloop-shaped end portion so as to permit the gripping loop with thearticle gripped by said loop-shaped end portion to be drawn into it andhaving inward projections and portions of reduced thickness so as topermit said gripping loop with the article gripped by the saidloop-shaped end portion to be drawn into the said sleeve and the part ofthe article gripped by the said loop-shaped end portion to be gripped bysaid inward projections and portions of reduced thickness; releasablelocking means on the gripping loop and the sleeve for retaining thegripping loop in said elongated tubular sleeve when drawn into it, saidreleasable locking means comprising teeth on said loop-shaped endportion and cooperating edges on said elongated tubular sleeve; and aflexible elongated carrying member having one end connected to thegripping loop and the other end secured to the exterior of the sleeve soas to form a closed carrying handle.

7. A combined attaching and carrying device for a bag having a pliableneck, said device comprising, in combination, a gripping loop having aloop-shaped end portion through which the neck of the bag can bethreaded tobe gripped and closed thereby; an elongated tubular sleevehaving a length smaller than the length of said gripping loop so thatsaid loop-shaped end portion of said gripping loop projects from one endof said sleeve when said gripping loop is introduced into said sleevethrough the other end thereof, permitting passing of the bag throughsaid projecting loop-shaped end portion, said sleeve having an innersize exceeding in at least one direction the corresponding size of saidloopshaped end portion so as to permit the gripping loop with the neckof the bag to be drawn into it; releasable locking means on the grippingloop and the sleeve for retaining the gripping loop in said elongatedtubular sleeve when drawn into it; and a flexible elongated carryingmember having one end connected to the gripping loop and the other endsecured to the exterior of the sleeve so as to form a closed carryinghandle.

8. A combined attaching and carrying device for an article, said devicecomprising, in combination, a gripping loop adapted to hold a part ofthe article and having a loop-shaped end portion through which said partof the article can be threaded to be gripped thereby; an elongatedtubular sleeve formed with an opening therethrough adapted to permitsaid loop-shaped end portion together with said part of the articleengaged by the said loop-shaped end portion to be drawn into saidopening and having a length smaller than the length of said grippingloop so that said loop-shaped end portion of said gripping loop projectsfrom one end of said sleeve when said gripping loop is introduced intosaid sleeve through the other end thereof, permitting passing of anarticle to be gripped through said projecting loopshaped end portion,said sleeve having an inner size exceeding in at least one direction thecorresponding size of said loop-shaped end portion so as to permit thegripping loop with the article gripped by said loop-shaped end portionto be drawn into it and being shaped so as to grip said part of thearticle between said loop-shaped end portion and the inner wall of thesaid sleeve; releasable locking means on the gripping loop and thesleeve for retaining the gripping loop in said elongated tubular sleevewhen drawn into it; and a flexible elongated carrying member having oneend connected to the gripping loop and the other end secured to theexterior of the sleeve so as to form a closed carrying handle, theportion of said carrying member longitudinally adjacent said one endbeing adapted to longitudinally pass through said opening in saidsleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,510Hall Apr. 2, 1867 1,979,508 Van Den Bel Nov. 6, 1934 2,233,157 Oahn etal. Feb. 25, 1941 2,510,186 Marsico et al. June 6, 1950 2,632,219 MasseyMar. 24, 1953 2,884,214 Wrobel Apr. 18, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,157Great Britain Sept. 28, 1934 647,389 France July, 30, 1928 1,075,876France Apr. 14, 1954

